Hit the road for a "One-Tank Trip" around Southern Ontario.
Adventures worth the drive from the syndicated newspaper/web column by Jim Fox

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Sunday, July 28, 2013

You can go camping, but I prefer “glamping”

One-Tank Trip for
July 27/13

(c) By Jim Fox

There’s still
plenty of summer left to learn to camp at Ontario Parks – or forget about roughing
it and go C at Bingemans in Kitchener.

Newbie campers

Among the “what’s
new” at Ontario Parks are additional Learn to Camp sessions at more locations,
says Lori Waldbrook, senior marketing specialist.

Escape to a park
such as Algonquin to paddle a Voyageur canoe in the wilderness. (Jim Fox photo)

There is also a new
“Graduate” program offered to past learning participants along with new Learn
to Fish sessions at four Ontario Parks.

No car or can’t
drive? Then there’s the Parkbus offering transportation from the Greater
Toronto Area (GTA), with connections from other cities, to a new Learn to Camp
in Northern Ontario.

As well, in the GTA,
Earl Rowe and Emily Provincial Parks are hosting learning sessions in addition
to existing programs at Bronte Creek, Darlington, Sibbald Point and Six
Mile Lake parks. For rates and availability: ontarioparks.com/learntocamp

Learning to set up
a tent is part of camping programs offered by Ontario Parks this summer.
(Ontario Parks)

The new grad
program gives past participants a chance to further hone their camping skills.

There is a choice
of one-or two-night sessions at an existing Learn to Camp location or opt for
an independent camping experience at Grundy Lake, north of Parry Sound, with
guidance provided.

You can even take a
bus to Learn to Camp with Parkbus service from the GTA to Algonquin, Killarney
and Grundy Lake by booking the camping session first and then buying the
pre-reserved bus ticket. http://parkbus.ca

Go fish!

Ontario Parks, in
partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources, now offers two-hour Learn
to Fish sessions.

It’s a great day
for going fishing at Bass Lake Provincial Park near Orillia. (Jim Fox photo)

These are part of
the overnight Learn to Camp experiences at Darlington, Earl Rowe, Emily and
Sibbald Point parks, with equipment and one-day fishing licenses included.

Other park
learning opportunities range from nature photography to kayaking as well as mapping
the night sky and creating a stone or wood carving. OntarioParks.com

There’s an app for that

Whether you travel
near or far, there’s a camping app available.

Need a flashlight?
Looking for easy campsite recipes or a trail to hike? How about a new outdoor
game?

A moose is on the
loose in Algonquin Provincial Park. (Ontario
Parks)

Camping apps include
ones from Coleman for the Classic Camping Cookbook and Meal Planner, Coleman
Lantern and Campfire Tales.

The Ontario Trails
Council has a mobile app to search trails by city, town, name or nearby and
includes cycling, equestrian, hiking and walking, running and snowshoe and
backcountry.

There’s the St.
John Ambulance app for first-aid advice and protocols for dealing with
emergencies and includes illustrated guides and voice instructions.

Stargazers can download
the Royal Astronomical Society’s Clear Sky Chart and there is a proliferation
of bird-watching apps available.

Glamorous camping

Forget all the work
and drudgery of roughing it on a camping vacation.

Bingemans offers
“glamping” experiences alongside the Grand River in Kitchener.

Glamping
experiences at Bingemans in Kitchener include yurts with two queen-size beds.

You can enjoy the
great outdoors but with additional amenities that exceed anything most campers
experience.

The Glamping
Experience packages include a night's stay in a luxurious yurt – that’s a
free-standing tent with hard walls and a door – with two queen-size beds and linens.

There is chandelier
lighting, a refrigerator, fire pit, picnic table and a pristine site
overlooking the river.

“A lot of people
love the idea of camping – sitting around a fire, enjoying the wilderness and
connecting with family and friends – but not everyone likes to rough it while
on their vacation,” said Mark Bingeman of Bingemans Camping Resort.

“We’ve created an
experience that combines the outdoor fun of camping with the comfort of a five-star
hotel. The other great aspect is how you can customize the experience to be as
glamorous or as rustic as you like.”

Bingemans offers
“glamping” experiences alongside the Grand River in Kitchener.

There’s also the Pampered
Glamping package for those wanting to increase the comfort level.

This includes Gina’s
Spa glamping rejuvenator, a personal chef dinner made with local-inspired menus
delivered to the site, premium picnic baskets and a movie night.

In its 75th season,
Bingemans’ resort has an amusement park, Big Splash waterpark, indoor playland,
mini golf and has just added the Kingpin Bowlounge with 28 lanes and Boston
Pizza. Bingemans.com; 1-800-565-4631